Chapter 38
"You can't just show up at his mother's motel this late, unannounced." Amelia repeated adamantly.
"It isn't that late and it's a motel; that's what people do."
"Sam. You're not just people." Amelia was now using her hands to emphasize her point.
"What the hell does that mean?" He couldn't believe after all these years and everything he'd been through and done; any implication that he was less than human was still a sensitive subject.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Amelia calmly responded to his thoughts. "I meant, you're not just another motel guest checking in. You have a history with Mike. You'll remind him of what was probably the worst days of his life." She paused before adding, "Meet him with the light of day and the comfort it brings."
X
They had been arguing about how to make contact with Michael Sorenson ever since they had crossed into Wisconsin. After leaving the racetrack in the late afternoon, Sam had gotten them on the I-90 heading west and north. They had cleared Illinois in a couple of hours. At some point it occurred to Sam, he knew she was right but was still arguing because he enjoyed the verbal sparring. And either she wasn't reading his mind while she was so wrapped in her own thoughts while arguing; or she was still arguing because she was enjoying it as much as he was.
There animated discussion had continued after Sam had conceded he shouldn't call Mike tonight. Their discussions had caused them to miss the first cutoff to the Fitchburg/Madison area and they had to come back into Madison from the north. He wanted to stay near the University of Wisconsin campus, so he could find a pub and hustle some college kids. She hadn't understood his desire to supplement their cash, they had plenty money. Then she saw he actually enjoyed the atmospheres and friendly competitions in the bars/pubs.
They were going through the downtown area, crossing the isthmus between the two lakes, as Sam was headed for the campus on the west side of the city. Amelia's tone suddenly changed as she told Sam to stop. As he pulled out of traffic, he felt the amulet vibrating. By the time he had stopped the car and was able to look over at Amelia, she had her eyes closed; obviously communicating with Apsu.
"What is it?" He asked her when she opened her eyes.
She wanted to tell him what the trapped god had said. Apsu didn't know who, but he 'was sure one of the donors was nearby; that their paths were going to cross this night'. Telling humans their futures tended to cause them to alter those futures. The future could be changed every moment of every day. You look right instead of left and see the mate you were intended to have; you stopped to pet the cat on the way out the door, which caused you to miss a stoplight and get hit by falling space junk. You learn you are intended to be Lucifer's vessel and cause the end of the world.
Sam had stopped an apocalypse. But would just knowing the future, that their plan might be hinged on tonight, cause Sam to change his actions, and maybe miss the donor? Of course, maybe it was telling him that caused him to make the action that created the meeting. She looked over at his anxious face. She hadn't seen any of this in his future; but what she knew about the man had shown her the answer to give him.
"Apsu says one of the donors is here."
They looked at the crowded city streets. They were surrounded by hotels and restaurants, and hundreds of people were out enjoying the summer evening.
"How are we supposed to find someone in this?"
"He says; they will find you."
"What?"
A horn blaring brought them back to their surroundings. Sam was blocking a hotel driveway. He pulled off the street and into the hotel's parking area. Sam turned to Amelia after stopping the car. She saw a thousand questions and emotions pass through his mind, the storming conflict of his thoughts making her dizzy and she closed her eyes. Suddenly, she saw his mind clear and absolute clarity coming from him, with herself at the center. She opened her eyes to see him looking at her.
Struggling for something to say, she started, "Sam. I know you hate the idea of fate ", was all she got out before he interrupted.
"Stop. Amelia, tell me you, well, you and Apsu, know whatever is supposed to happen tonight will happen." His eyes were pleading with her. "You're right. Fate and/or destiny don't mean shit to me. I don't believe or trust either. But, you, you I trust."
They just stared at each other, neither being able to think of anything to say, or even needing to try.
Suddenly, there several knocks on Sam's window. "Sir? If you're checking in; could you pull your car up to the door?" They turned to see a parking valet staring in at them. They turned back and looked at each other.
"Here goes nothing." Sam said as he turned back to the valet and nodded, put the car in gear and pulled up to the check-in area by the front door.
X
The only hotels Sam had ever used, other than haunted ones while on a case, had been rat-traps in really bad neighborhoods. Well lit lobbies, valets with luggage racks and concierges were a pleasant, yet awkward, experience. Under his close supervision, they got the cooler and equipment bags out of the car and loaded on the large, brass-plated luggage dolly.
Sam got some very strange looks when he said he'd pay for the room in cash. His heart skipped a beat, when the clerk said they'd need a credit card on-file as a deposit. He had registered with his new Missouri ID, as Eliot Ness; all his credit cards had different names. His heart skipped another beat, when Amelia stepped up to the desk, wrapped her arm through his and practically groped him.
"Eliot dear, is there a problem?" She said in a tone of voice he had never heard her use before. A tone that had an immediate effect on his entire body; he felt his heart and breathing rates increase, and the start of an erection. He looked down at her; she wasn't glowing, but he could practically see the hormones emanating off her. He turned to the clerk, hoping the deep blush he now felt would reinforce the charade she was trying to provide; when he noticed every male within 20 feet looked exactly like he felt.
She reached her hand out and touched the clerk. "Josh, is it?" She said after glancing at his name tag. "Is there any way we could do this without Eliot using his card? His wife, well, soon-to-be-ex-wife, has been trying to ruin are little visits. We'd really prefer not to leave a credit trail, if you know what I mean?"
The clerk, Josh, was having a hard time speaking; but his supervisor, slid down the counter and checked them in. He allowed Sam to leave a large cash deposit. As the elevator doors closed, on the way to their room, every man in the lobby felt like they had suddenly woken from a trance, and been slipped a Viagra.
As soon as the door closed, after the valets, all three that had been on duty had offered to help with their bags, and declined tips on their way out; Sam turned to Amelia and asked. "What the hell was that?" She just smiled at him as he turned and went into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
"That was fun. I haven't done that in centuries." She poured herself a glass of water, opened the balcony window and enjoyed the breeze from the lakes while waiting for Sam to finish what she had started.